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Chelsea have now entered negotiations over a deal to sign a rapid new centre-back, and an opening offer is set to be made within weeks.

Blues looking to sign new centre-back despite Cahill comments

With Levi Colwill suffering an ACL injury back in August, the Blues’ offer centre-back options have had to step up to the plate this season, and Gary Cahill has been very impressed with their performances, so much so that he believes his former club don’t need to sign a new defender.

Cahill said: “There has been a lot of noise around this for a long time, but I think the lads that are there are doing a very good job of proving that they don’t need to add to this position,”

“I’ve been very impressed with Wesley Fofana since he’s come back. Touch wood that he stays fit.

“Trevoh Chalobah: look at the job he’s been doing – he’s a bit of an unsung hero. Trevoh is probably the most underappreciated player at Chelsea.

However, while a senior centre-back may not be required, BlueCo are always keen to bring in exciting up-and-coming prospects, and they have now entered negotiations over a deal for Gremio defender Luis Eduardo.

That is according to a report from AS (via Sport Witness), which states Chelsea have now entered talks to sign Eduardo, alongside Premier League rivals Manchester United, with opening offers set to be made in the coming weeks.

The Blues are now trying to ‘accelerate’ their pursuit of the centre-back, given that scouts have been left impressed with his performances, with the 17-year-old well-known for his pace, having reached 38 km/h for Gremio earlier this year.

The speedster has a €60m (£53m) release clause included in his contract with the Brazilian club, although it is unclear whether BlueCo would be willing to shell out such a big fee on a very young player.

Chelsea now ready to trigger £44m release clause for "unstoppable" striker

The Blues are looking to sign a new centre-forward, who has been in fantastic form so far this season.

ByDominic Lund Nov 30, 2025 Luis Eduardo impressing at youth level

The teenager is yet to establish himself as a regular starter for Gremio, having made just one appearance for the senior team, but he has put in some eye-catching performances for both club and country at youth level.

Despite being a centre-back, the Corrente-born ace managed to score two goals in seven appearances for Gremio U20s in 2025, while he has also netted three goals in 13 appearances for Brazil U17s.

Eduardo could be one for the future, but Cahill is correct in his assessment that Chelsea don’t need to worry about bringing in a new centre-back anytime soon, given Chalobah’s recent form, most recently netting the opening goal in the 1-1 draw with Arsenal.

Enzo Maresca also has Josh Acheampong and Benoit Badiashile at his disposal as back-up options, and with Colwill still to return, the manager is well-stocked at centre-back.

Manchester City closed the gap on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League to just two points after they beat Sunderland 3-0 at The Etihad on Saturday.

A screamer from Ruben Dias set the Cityzens on their way before Rayan Cherki provided a genius rabona assist for Phil Foden to seal all three points with the third goal.

Despite a run of five wins in their last six matches in the Premier League, there is always room for improvement at Manchester City for Pep Guardiola, which means that they could be active in the upcoming January transfer window.

Man City scouting Bundesliga star

One thing that the Cityzens do not have in abundance is players with real speed who can run off the last line, but they are now looking at a star who could provide that.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to CaughtOffside, Manchester City are one of a number of clubs eyeing up a potential swoop to sign RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande in the January transfer window.

The report claims that the Premier League side have sent scouts to watch the Ivorian talent in action in the Bundesliga this season, ahead of a possible move for him next month or next summer.

It adds, though, that Spurs, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Liverpool have also been watching the 19-year-old starlet, which suggests that there could be plenty of competition for his signature.

CaughtOffside reveals that insiders believe that his value could rise as high as £87m amid interest from a host of top European clubs, whilst his contract does not expire until 2030.

Why Man City should sign Yan Diomande

The Cityzens should push to win the race for the teenage whiz’s signature because he could be Guardiola’s new Sterling, as a rapid right-footed right winger who can provide a real threat in behind.

In Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, and Rayan Cherki, City have a collection of right-sided attackers who are at their best dropping into play to take the ball with their back to goal or on the half-turn, but they do not have a natural right winger who wants to run in behind.

U23 scout Antonio Mango described Diomande, meanwhile, as a “crazy speedster” who has become a “weapon” in the final third by adding goals and assists to go along with his electric pace.

The Ivorian star scored a hat-trick against Frankfurt in a 6-0 win for Leipzig at the weekend, taking his tally for the season to seven goals in 15 appearances for the German side.

Diomande has scored six goals from 3.03 xG and registered two assists from two ‘big chances’ created, per Sofascore, in the Bundesliga for his club, whilst he has also completed 2.8 dribbles per game, which speaks to how direct and purposeful his play is.

Sergio Aguero (260)

Kevin De Bruyne (177)

Joe Hayes (146)

David Silva (136)

Eric Brook (145)

Raheem Sterling (86)

Erling Haaland (144)

Bernardo Silva (75)

Colin Bell (149)

Phil Foden (65)

Francis Lee (138)

Sergio Aguero (65)

Raheem Sterling (131)

Riyad Mahrez (59)

As you can see in the table above, Sterling was also a player who provided quality in the final third to go along with the pace that he used to run in behind opposition defenders.

The fact that the England international and Sergio Aguero are the only two players who feature in the top seven for both goals and assists speaks to how effective he was for Guardiola on the right wing as both a scorer and a creator.

Diomande is a talented young player who has the potential to follow in Sterling’s footsteps, because he has already shown that he can provide quality on a regular basis in the Bundesliga with Leipzig this term, with eight goal contributions so far.

Like Sterling, the 19-year-old winger is a dynamic forward who can go down the line or run in behind on his right foot, but he can also drop deep and come inside onto his weaker foot, having scored four goals with his left foot and two with his right, per Sofascore.

Man City make approach for 'frustrated' Arsenal star as three more clubs line up

The Gunners have responded.

ByEmilio Galantini 7 days ago

This is why City should be pushing to get a deal done for the youngster when the January transfer window opens, because Diomande could provide Guardiola with a right-sided option that he has not had since Sterling left the club.

Manchester United have now joined the race to sign a “phenomenal” midfielder, who recently put in an impressive performance at Old Trafford.

Man Utd stepping up pursuit of new midfielder

Man United have set out to sign a new central midfielder in the January transfer window, and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Joao Gomes is the object of their desires, with it recently being revealed the 24-year-old has said ‘yes’ to a move to Old Trafford.

INEOS are now working on a deal for the Wolves star, with David Ornstein revealing the Old Gold may choose to cash-in during the January transfer window, as his value may decrease if they are a Championship club by the time summer comes around.

The need to bring in a new central midfielder may also be exacerbated if Kobbie Mainoo moves on, with it now emerging that talks over the 20-year-old signing a contract extension have been put on hold, amid interest from reigning Serie A champions Napoli.

However, it would be understandable if Wolves were unwilling to sell Gomes, given that he has been one of their key players this season and remains contracted until 2030, and the Red Devils have now joined the race for a potential alternative.

That is according to a report from talkSPORT, which names Man United as potential suitors for Everton midfielder James Garner, who is also being targeted by Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa.

The Toffees have little interest in sanctioning a departure, however, and have recently stepped up talks over a new contract, with Garner’s current deal set to expire at the end of the season.

David Moyes is personally keen to keep hold of the central midfielder, and it is no surprise, given that he recently played an instrumental role in his side’s 1-0 win at Old Trafford.

Garner impresses in shock Everton win at Old Trafford

After Idrissa Gueye was shown a red card for an altercation with teammate Michael Keane on Monday night, United would’ve been expecting to take all three points, but they were unable to take advantage of their numerical superiority.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored the only goal of the game just before the half-an-hour mark, with Garner grabbing the assist, while also making three interceptions and one clearance to keep Ruben Amorim’s side at bay.

Man Utd have advantage over Chelsea in race for "midfield sensation" Assan Ouedraogo

He has a massive future in the game.

By
Henry Jackson

Nov 25, 2025

Hailed as “phenomenal” by pundit Trevor Sinclair, a deal for the Englishman wouldn’t break the bank at £20m+, and he has outperformed Gomes across some key defensive statistics over the past year.

That said, both Garner and Gomes aren’t experienced at the highest level, and Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni would perhaps be a more exciting addition to the squad, with the Spanish side’s asking price recently being revealed.

ACE, the parent company of MLC, said “USAC is hypocritically alleging contractual noncompliance”

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Aug-2025

USA Cricket (USAC) has terminated their commercial agreement with American Cricket Enterprises (ACE), the parent company of Major League Cricket (MLC), which is three seasons old. ACE, in reply, called the termination “unlawful” and “wrongful”. ACE further said it has “fully complied” with their contractual obligations under the agreement with USAC, who have “no grounds to terminate the agreement”.USAC cited multiple material breaches of the agreement signed between them in May 2019, and said in a media release issued on August 21 that ACE failed to “fulfill its contractual and fiduciary obligations” despite “extensive dialogue, the issuance of formal breach notices, and repeated opportunities to cure defaults.””The breaches span critical areas, including financial commitments, infrastructure development, organizational structural, and governance responsibilities,” the release said.Venu Pisike, USAC Board chairman, further said: “USA Cricket entered into this partnership with ACE in good faith, with the shared vision of building sustainable infrastructure, providing competitive opportunities for our athletes, and creating commercial growth for the sport in America. We are supportive for the growth and success of Major League Cricket and Minor League Cricket. But, when it comes to USA Cricket, ACE has consistently failed to meet its obligations under the agreement, which has jeopardized the broader development of cricket in United States. After years of engagement and repeated breach notices, USA Cricket has no choice but to terminate this agreement to protect the best interests of the sport and its stakeholders. Additionally, we also raised concerns around the circumstances under which ACE was given the contract and the usage of USA Cricket intellectual property.”USA Cricket is resolute in ensuring that American cricket has a strong, sustainable future. We will continue to work closely with the International Cricket Council, domestic stakeholders, and partners to deliver on this vision.”The release further said USAC is open to “renewed discussions” with ACE for new terms and conditions that ensure “full alignment with the organization’s vision and long-term development objectives, including support for national team programs, player development, and grassroots initiatives.”ACE issued a statement in reply to say: “ACE is disappointed that USAC has selfishly chosen, on the eve of the 2025 MiLC (Minor League Cricket) season, to wrongfully terminate its agreement with ACE. USAC’s conduct undermines the hard work and dedication of all players, staff and team personnel involved in U.S. cricket, and the continued development of the sport in this country. It also jeopardizes MiLC, men’s, women’s and youth national team activities, and preparations for upcoming ICC events and the LA28 Olympics.”Indeed, based on information that has come to light, USAC may have been advised against terminating the agreement. Despite what has been stated about ACE’s performance, ACE has exceeded its financial obligations under the agreement. ACE has not only provided USAC with direct payments in full compliance with its obligations, but has also repeatedly provided USAC with additional discretionary funding and financial support to help USAC achieve its objectives and purposes. ACE recently made advanced payments, at USAC’s request, so that USAC could meet its staff salary obligations. ACE has also complied with its infrastructure obligations. In fact, USAC has recognized and relied upon ACE’s high-performance facilities for national team events, training and workshops.”USAC is hypocritically alleging contractual noncompliance while requesting that ACE immediately negotiate a new agreement. ACE views USAC’s improper conduct as nothing more than a cynical attempt to serve personal and political agendas, at the expense of the U.S. cricket community.”Consistent with previous ICC and USOPC recommendations, ACE urges the USAC board to resign immediately and allow professional independent board members selected by the ICC and USOPC to steer USA Cricket forward.”Nonetheless, ACE will not allow USAC’s tactics to undermine its continued development of a thriving, elite cricket ecosystem. ACE remains focused on advancing U.S. cricket and serving the best interests of the cricket community.”ACE is prepared to take all necessary steps to protect its stakeholders, safeguard the progress it has made over the last seven years, and ensure the long-term success of cricket in the U.S.”Last month, the ICC had proposed the USAC Board resign as part of roadmap for Olympics certification in the lead up to the 2028 Olympics that are to be held in Los Angeles. The ICC had initiated steps to “reset” and overhaul the leadership and governance structure at USAC at the behest of US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC).USAC and ACE had launched the MLC in the USA with six teams in 2023, three of which are owned by IPL team owners, and another owned by an investor group that includes the owners of Delhi Capitals. The first two seasons were played across two grounds, in Morrisville (North Carolina) and Dallas (Texas), before the tournament expanded to Lauderhill (Florida) and Oakland (California).

The fast bowler hasn’t played much Test cricket for New Zealand, but he’s making 2024 his best year in the format

Ashish Pant17-Oct-20244:49

46 all out: decoding India’s batting collapse

Matt Henry paused for a moment right after taking his first wicket against India in Bengaluru. As his team-mates rushed to congratulate Devon Conway for taking a one-handed screamer at mid-off to dismiss Sarfaraz Khan, Henry looked down, hands on his knees, and laughed. His luckless morning had ended.Before that wicket, Henry had bowled 27 balls, off which he induced 14 false shots from India’s batters and beat them five times. He had an extremely close lbw appeal turned down against Rohit Sharma, who survived the review because of the umpire’s call.At the other end, he had watched Tim Southee bowl Rohit between bat and pad with a wobble-seam delivery and William O’Rourke strike with his sixth ball on Indian soil. So when the ball nestled in Conway’s outstretched right hand, it was a well-deserved reward for a bowler who had conceded only six runs in 4.3 overs before then.While Henry has impressed in different conditions, he is most effective when it’s gloomy overhead and the ball nips around. Overcast skies. India. Henry. Remember Manchester 2019?Related

• Stats – India plumb new lows on their way to 46 all out

• Pant stays off the field after picking up knee injury while keeping

• Rohit Sharma 'hurting' after misjudging Bengaluru pitch

• India's counterattacking instincts backfire like never before

But unlike the limited-overs formats, Henry doesn’t play much Test cricket for New Zealand. This is only his 26th appearance since his debut in 2015. He hasn’t played a Test since the second week of March this year, but he showed no signs of rust in Bengaluru.His first delivery was on a good length outside off and beat Rohit’s uncertain poke. A few balls later Henry squared him up, and then was visibly frustrated at the lbw appeal not going his way in the fourth over. He beat Yashasvi Jaiswal frequently too, with movement away from the left-hander. And even though he didn’t get either opener, Henry was eventually rewarded five times over.Henry is New Zealand’s leading wicket-taker this year: 28 at an average of 14.46 in nine innings. Trent Boult giving up his central contract has given Henry more chances recently and 2024 is his best year in Test cricket by a distance, even though he missed New Zealand’s previous series in Sri Lanka because they played only two specialist quicks – Southee and O’Rourke.It took Henry 28 balls to strike in Bengaluru, and he returned later to ensure there was no lower-middle-order revival from India that has been the bane of so many visiting teams in recent years. Extra bounce had Ravindra Jadeja lobbing a leading edge to point last ball before lunch. R Ashwin nicked one that nipped away to gully first ball after lunch. Three deliveries later Rishabh Pant edged one that moved away from him to slip. Seam, swing, and control at a brisk pace – Henry’s bread and butter – sent India crashing towards their lowest total at home in Test cricket.Matt Henry picked up his fourth five-wicket haul, and his 100th Test wicket•AFP/Getty Images”The conditions this morning, we talked about being relentless with the ball, and being patient, and I think that was probably something that we looked to do, and thankfully it came off,” Henry said after the second day’s play.He and O’Rourke were level on four wickets each with India nine down, and it was Henry who finished with a five-for to complete 100 wickets in Test cricket – joint-second fastest to the milestone for New Zealand.”It’s a pretty special achievement to get a five-for in India, they’re pretty tough to get, but I think more importantly we’ve put our team in a good position leading into the Test match,” Henry said after finishing with figures of 13.2-3-15-5.As Henry led New Zealand off the field, with the ball held high, he was followed by his Canterbury team-mate O’Rourke, whose 4 for 22 included the wickets of Virat Kohli, Jaiswal, and KL Rahul. At 6’4″, 23-year-old O’Rourke has had a rousing start to his career: 23 wickets in eight innings with two five-fors and two four-wicket hauls. On Thursday, he rattled India with his ability to extract extra bounce from the Bengaluru pitch.”His height’s the X-factor right there, isn’t it?” Henry said. “He gets a lot of bounce, he’s very tall and he uses that height at the crease as well, so as you see, he gets a lot of steep bounce off quite a full length as well, making it really uncomfortable, especially with the ball coming into the right-handers.”I think something that is great about William O’Rourke is that he keeps his pace up as well, he keeps coming in for the team, and he’s done that for Canterbury, and there’s no surprise that he’ll do the same when he came up to New Zealand, and he’s just had a fantastic start, and I’m absolutely stoked for him.”By the time the play ended, with India dismantled for 46 and New Zealand 134 ahead with seven wickets in hand, Henry’s smile had grown into the broadest of beams, having played the starring role in one of their best days in recent memory.

MLB has used PitchCom since 2022 so pitchers and catchers can transmit calls instead of visually giving signs. The transmitters have helped with the pitch clock, too, since pitchers now have less time to shake off signs. But have you ever heard what the system sounds like in a player's ear?

Well, SNY and New York Mets field reporter Steve Gelbs gave us a walkthrough on Thursday night of the sounds that are passed directly into the ears of MLB stars as calls are made. The default English setting sounds like a generic, almost Siri-like voice spewing pitch types and locations. You can watch the fun segment and hear it for yourself below:

Gelbs mentioned there are default Spanish sounds, too, which includes all pitches and calls except for "sweeper" because, well, there isn't a Spanish word for sweeper.

The device is customizable allowing you to record your own calls or in other languages, which some players and clubs have had fun with before. This isn't the first time we've seen a PitchCom demo at the MLB level as the Colorado Rockies went through how they use the devices last season.

Still, it's a great inside baseball segment that probably helped a lot of fans figure out why pitchers are always messing with their hats or covering their ears with their gloves.

One mystery still stands, though—who is the mysterious PitchCom voice? Gelbs asked that question and didn't get a clear answer, but he did provide a prime suspect—the PitchCom founder, which could either be John Hankins or Craig Filicetti.

They might have suffered their first defeat in months at the hands of Aston Villa on Saturday, but this season is still shaping up to be a memorable one for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s side are top of the Premier League and Champions League tables and still haven’t reached their full potential.

Moreover, while injuries have taken their toll, the Gunners have a squad bursting at the seams with incredible players, and Bukayo Saka, arguably their most important player, has produced three goal involvements in his last four games.

So, fans should be excited about reports linking Arsenal to a player who has been compared not only to the Englishman but also to summer target Rodrygo.

Arsenal target Saka & Rodrygo hybrid

Uncharacteristically, Arsenal went on something of a spending spree in the summer, bringing in the likes of Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyokeres and others.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Therefore, it would be understandable if the North Londoners held off on any major signings in the January window.

However, it would appear that the Gunners are determined to further improve their already impressive squad, and are now looking at a player who has been compared to both Saka and Rodrygo.

At least that is according to a recent report from Spain, which claims Arsenal are very interested in signing Yan Diamonde.

In fact, the report goes further than that, revealing that the Premier League leaders have now identified the winger as a priority target.

However, the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City are also said to be keen on the youngster and that RB Leipzig would need a fee of up to €100m to sell their star asset, which is about £87m.

It would therefore almost certainly be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Diomande’s ability and potential, one Arsenal should fight for anyway, especially as he’s been compared to Saka and Rodrygo.

How Diomande compares to Saka & Rodrygo

So, starting with the obvious and somewhat surface-level similarities, like Saka and Rodrygo, Diomande is a seriously exciting winger plying his trade for a team in one of Europe’s top five leagues.

Moreover, unlike some other wingers for top teams, the 19-year-old is someone who can back up his flashy ability with output.

For example, in 15 first-team appearances this season, totalling just 951 minutes, the Ivorian star has scored seven goals and provided four assists.

That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.36 games, or every 86.45 minutes, which is a rate of return that really lends credence to journalist Bence Bocsák’s claim that he is a “generational talent.”

However, the comparisons to the two international wingers go deeper than just their positions and ability to produce goal involvements.

For example, FBref has ranked Rodrygo as the second-most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Leipzig star across Europe’s top five leagues, and ranked Saka as the ninth-most similar.

The best way to understand how these comparisons have been made is to take a look at the underlying numbers in which the players rank so closely.

Progressive Carries

6.74

6.74

Shots on Target

1.35

1.40

Key Passes

1.46

1.40

Blocks

1.35

1.16

Passing Accuracy

80.9%

83.5%

In the case of the Real Madrid star, these metrics include progressive carries, key passes, shots on target, and passing accuracy, all per 90.

In other words, the teen phenom is as capable as the two-time Champions League winner at getting the ball up the pitch, whether by carrying or passing.

Expected Goals

0.34

0.36

Shots

2.37

2.60

Shots on Target

1.35

1.21

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.57

1.48

Shot-Creating Actions

4.29

4.55

Tackles Won

0.56

0.65

Ball Recoveries

5.39

5.56

Now, when it comes to the Gunners’ mercurial number seven, similar metrics include shot-creating actions, ball recoveries, tackles won, shots on target, expected goals, and more, also per 90.

This suggests that the youngster is as willing to help out with the defensive side of the game as the 24-year-old is, while also still being a serious goal threat.

Ultimately, it would require a significant amount of money, but Arsenal should do what they can to sign Diomande, as, in addition to being a great prospect in his own right, he also has a lot in common with Saka and Rodrygo.

Arsenal star was playing like Saka, now he's being treated like Smith Rowe

The incredible Arsenal talent could end up following Smith Rowe’s trajectory instead of Saka’s.

3 ByJack Salveson Holmes 2 days ago

Mark Wood has cast doubt on his availability for the third Ashes Test and admitted concerns that, at 35, his body is no longer coping with the rigours of bowling 90mph/145kph.Wood had surgery on his left knee after hobbling out of England’s Champions Trophy campaign in February, and the series opener in Perth was his first Test match in 15 months. He bowled 11 wicketless overs across the match but was sent to a specialist after reporting more pain and has been wearing a knee brace since arriving in Brisbane.Speaking to Channel 7 at the tea break during the second Test at the Gabba, Wood suggested he was unlikely to be in contention for the Adelaide Test, which starts on December 17: “I think there’s a chance there, but more realistically, it’s probably more Melbourne and then [Sydney] after that… I need to get out of this [brace] first to get moving around.”Related

• Wood set to miss second Test after long road back from injury

• Rip me up and start again: cricket's most thrilling art is also the most self-destructive

• Lyon 'absolutely filthy' after being left out of consecutive pink-ball Tests

• The world where Lyon doesn't play at the Gabba

Wood said that he has had painkilling injections in his knee since the first Test, and suggested that age is catching up with him. “Throughout my career, I’ve tried to show resilience and keep coming back and keep trying to push it where I can bowl faster and faster, but I’m getting older now.”I don’t know if my body’s not coping with it as well [as it used to] but I’ll keep trying. That’s something I pride myself on, to keep running in for the team and be a good team man. I’m hoping I can get this right and can charge in again.”I’m trying to just get through day-to-day at the minute. Later in the series is what I’m aiming for, but I can’t do that much at the minute. I’ve had a couple of injections, resting up, and slowly but surely, running [will] start soon, then back into bowling.”It’s more mentally difficult than physically. You’ve got to try and build it back up and come back again, and that’s probably the more difficult thing.”Ben Stokes, England’s captain, said on the eve of the Brisbane Test that Wood would do “everything” possible to remain in contention for selection in this series: “We’ve got a lot more time to go on this tour, and we’ll just see how things play out with that.”

It was a year in which Sri Lanka carved a glorious arc through world cricket, and at the heart of it was a man who did everything, everywhere, all at once

Andrew Fidel Fernando16-Jun-2025There was no indication early on that 2014 would turn out to be such a roaring tornado of a year for Sri Lanka’s men, though it did start strangely.Sri Lanka and Pakistan began a Test on the last day of 2013, and played it into the fourth day of 2014, a game that turned out to be a staid draw in the end. But upon this first match of the calendar year (there is some debate on which year this game belongs to) Angelo Mathews made sure to write his name. Without his 91 in the first innings, Sri Lanka would have been skittled for far less than their eventual 204. Without his 157 not out in the second innings, his team would have struggled to keep the opposition at bay.There was a lot going on at the time. The previous year, Mathews had been made captain of the Test and ODI teams at age 25, which at the time was unusually young for a Sri Lanka leader. The board, additionally, was in its brashest era. Sri Lanka Cricket was backed by a government that at the time controlled practically everything on the island, which in turn empowered SLC to fight battles on two important fronts – against the Big Three, who made their first brazen attempt to control the global game in the first quarter of 2014, as well as against the top men’s players, whom the board felt were too highly-paid while the SLC was trying to claw its way back from enormous debt.Related

• Mathews defies drama, one last time

• 'It's quite sad'- Mathews calls for more Tests for Sri Lanka

• Dhananjaya de Silva: SL missed 'big chance' to make WTC final

• Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh: New beginnings for both teams as WTC restarts in Galle

• Ambidextrous spinner Rathnayake among new faces in SL squad

The men’s schedule was packed as well. There was an Asia Cup coming up, a full away tour to Bangladesh, Test tours away to England and Pakistan (UAE), and late in the year, an away series in New Zealand. At home, there were Tests against South Africa and Pakistan, plus Mahela Jayawardene’s Test retirement. If you add to this the intolerable weight of having made it to four ICC tournament finals since 2007 and always having been runners up, there was clearly a lot of pressure on the main event of 2014 – the T20 World Cup.The team’s response to all of this was to be electric and unmissable right through those 12 months. And within that team, there was no one as electric, or as unmissable, as Mathews, across almost all fronts. He was, that year, as adept at taking new-ball wickets in T20Is and ODIs, as stonewalling when the team faced a major Test deficit, as crashing boundaries in big knockouts, as prowling the covers and ranging the boundaries, as marshalling the tail, as rebuilding after a collapse, as sneaking red-ball wickets in crucial passages. Because he was the main captain, Mathews would also find himself at the centre of various controversies, including a ‘Mankading’ dismissal in England.Angelo Mathews lifts the Asia Cup in 2014•AFPIn the Test at Lord’s Kumar Sangakkara deservedly got the headlines for his determined entry into the honours board in what would be his final Test there. But Mathews’ 102 in the first innings, and 90-ball 18 in the second, were vital to pushing that match so deep that Sri Lanka were able to save it by the skin of their teeth. In the T20 World Cup, Rangana Herath and the frontline quicks dominated the middle and death overs. But Mathews had often set the stage for them with his miserly early spells. In the semi-final against West Indies, his 40 off 23 was Sri Lanka’s best. In the final, he claimed figures of 1 for 25 off four overs.In a home Test series against South Africa, Mathews didn’t get out for any fewer than 63, showcasing remarkable consistency. Then in the following match, against Pakistan, he pushed himself up the order and began hooking manically into the stands as Sri Lanka chased a Test victory in the dying moments of the fifth day, a raucous crowd thronging Galle’s fort ramparts as well as the grass banks in the stadium. Mathews hit the winning run just as the heavens unleashed a torrent.Mathews and Sri Lanka’s finest hour: the 2014 T20 World Cup win over India•ICC”He was just one of the best cricketers that fit any situation,” Sangakkara says about Angelo Mathews. Sangakkara, by the way, was having no-less epic a year. But as exceptional as Sangakkara was with the bat and the gloves, no one was firing on as many cylinders as Mathews.”He never went in and read the situation wrong,” Sangakkara says. “For someone to instinctively do that at such a young age was phenomenal. Everyone talks about Michael Bevan and these other late order batters who were so good, but Angie was also exceptional in that – the way he batted with the tail, the way he attacked and cleared the boundary with such clarity. He seemed to have an answer to every match situation.”His greatest moment in Tests came in Headingley that year, when his 4 for 16 with the ball restricted England to a lead of only 108 when they’d been headed for much more, before his bruising 160 in the second innings – which featured a 149-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Herath, turned the match on its head. So often in this stretch of Mathews’ career, tailenders would observably bat with more responsibility if he was the batter at the other end, like office workers who would quit chit-chatting, straighten their ties, and get back to the desk when the boss walked in. In that second innings at Headingley, Mathews had thrown his bat in anger when Dhammika Prasad (who could bat a bit) squandered his wicket first ball. So desperate was Prasad to redeem himself, that he came out and produced the bowling performance of his career, to help Sri Lanka win that game, or so the story goes.There will always be the disappointment that Mathews didn’t keep this up. Why wasn’t he roughly this good for so many more years? Why does he now average less than 45 with the bat? Why has he not strode his way to 10,000 Test runs? There is the obvious structural difference post-2015, which is that Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, and Tillakaratne Dilshan, whose excellence had created space for the young Mathews, retired and left a young team to its own devices. Where the senior batters had once cleared the dancefloor on which Mathews busted his moves, after 2015 so many situations into which Mathews arrived felt like a crisis.Sri Lanka’s 2014 tour of England: Mathews was never far from moments of magic, or controversy•PA PhotosThere is also the sense that he flew a little too close to the sun. Between 2010 and 2015, no one played more international cricket. He wishes he’d clocked this workload at the time, but then asks when he would possibly have had the time to take a step back and adjust? In 2014, he was a leading figure of one of the greatest Sri Lanka sides ever assembled, desperate to finally win the silverware to reflect that greatness. Within six months in 2014, Sri Lanka won an Asia Cup, a T20 World Cup, a Test series in England, and a home series against Pakistan. Mathews was instrumental to every one of those victories.That Mathews was coming in lower down, bred the kind of trophy-winning aggression even the top order displayed. “It gave me huge confidence knowing that Angie was there, because you know you’re in absolutely in good hands,” Sangakkara says. “It gives you a lot of freedom to bat, and up your tempo, or reverse pressure and be a little more aggressive. You knew you had this exceptional batter to come.”There are other exceptional Mathews moments. His captaining of the 3-0 home whitewash of Australia is an obvious. Batting all day with Kusal Mendis to save a Test match at the Basin Reserve in 2018 is another.But even without any of that, Mathews’ 2014 was enough. This was a year in which Sri Lanka carved a glorious arc through world cricket, stirring controversy sometimes with their own board, sometimes with the opposition, enrapturing their fans for months on end. In addition to the great batters already mentioned, the likes of Lasith Malinga and Herath have also had their legacies partially defined by the trophies won through this stretch.All those superstars needed 2014’s wins to provide the late validation their great careers deserved. All those superstars needed every bit of Angelo Mathews they got that year.

West Ham United look to be in absolute free fall at the moment.

Not even the new appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo has been able to stop the Premier League losses from piling up in East London, with the forlorn Hammers at least thankful to Wolverhampton Wanderers for picking up no wins to keep them off the very foot of the division.

Still, West Ham only have the one dire win from nine league matches themselves, as the ex-Nottingham Forest boss grows increasingly concerned that he is steering the ship straight down to the Championship.

Max Kilman has received plenty of pelters in recent weeks for his disastrous performances at the back, with the £40m recruit looking anything but a stable presence defensively in the daunting Premier League.

Kilman's woes at West Ham this season

With Kilman in the heart of defence this season, West Ham have leaked a shambolic 20 goals already in league action, which is the worst defensive record in the entire division.

He isn’t helped by his regular partner being Jean-Clair Todibo, who has just one clean sheet in claret and blue from 30 Premier League appearances, but the ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers man is very much on borrowed time when focussing in on the number 3’s woes, having been descrobed as “shocking” by one West Ham content creator during the 2-0 loss to Brentford last month.

Igor Thiago for the Bees completely bullied the weak 28-year-old all night long, with Kilman’s feebleness in the air, and when going in for duels one major concern. Indeed, he won only two of his eight duels against Keith Andrews’ visitors.

He did improve on this weak area against Leeds United last time out, with 100% of his aerial duels successfully won, but he still isn’t in the West Ham fans’ good books off the back of a debut season in East London that saw him collect just six clean sheets from 38 league outings.

His ex-Old Gold manager in Gary O’Neil has even opened up to state that one of Kilman’s biggest problems is his frustrating nature to “switch off” during games, with Nuno now potentially wanting to get rid having seen how shoddy the 6 foot 4 defender has been already during the early stages of his West Ham managerial career.

Thankfully, in the long term, West Ham could already have an in-house replacement for the £40m flop.

West Ham's "unreal" Kilman replacement

Nuno could look towards the next generation emerging up the ranks at West Ham to try and breathe life back into his side’s disastrous season, with Freddie Potts one face who could be deserving of a senior shot soon.

Alongside Potts, Kaelan Casey also looks ready for some first-team action imminently, having already been labelled as an “outstanding” asset to have at Swansea City by his short-term boss Alan Sheehan, after not looking fazed by the challenge of Manchester City in the EFL Cup.

Looking at his numbers above, Sheehan was right to shower the 21-year-old with praise, with Swansea in danger of being on the receiving end of a drubbing without Casey stepping up to the mark, as seen by the number 26 registering a mammoth 14 clearances all across the 3-1 defeat, on top of winning every single duel and tackle that came his way.

With a full EFL season soon to be under his belt, it’s clear that Casey could soon be fast-tracked to the first team picture back at the London Stadium, having already lined up for three senior games for his boyhood employers.

He also has 106 games next to his name for the Hammers U18s and U21s, with Declan Rice once even labelling Casey as an “unreal” talent off the back of him scoring 11 goals as a dependable defensive figure in youth football.

Kilman will know that he’s on borrowed time in East London, and if Casey returns with even more impressive showings to boast about – like his imperious night against City – he will soon surely be demoted down the pecking order for the 21-year-old to shine.

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